Tractor connection for agricultural implements



Nov. 27 1923,. I

I l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS OriginalFiled July 1'7 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/VENTOR I CM {W A TTOR/VEY-SNov; 27 1923.

j l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS l0Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 17; 1918 Nov. 27, 1923. 1,475,207

I. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original File2d July 17, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheets QM QM g;

INVENTOH A TTORNEK? Nov. 27 1923;

TROLLEY' TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTSY l0 Shee ts-Sheet .4

Original Filed July 1'7, 1918 M M W N I W A TTOR/VE V5 Nov. 27 1923.

|. TROLLEY v TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS OriginalFiled July 17, l9l8 10' Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 27 1923.

I. TRQLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original FiledJuly 17,- 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 I ATTOR/VEXS Nov. 27 1923.

1o Sheets-Sheet .7

'Original Filed July 17, 1918 lNl/E/VTUR M A TOR/VEY-S TRACTORCONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Original Filed July 17, 1918 10Sheets-Sheet 8 4 rromvsns l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURALIMPLEMENTS Nov. 27 1923'.

Original Filed Julylv, 1918 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 A TTORNE r5 Nov. 27, 1923.

l. TROLLEY TRACTOR CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS ori inal FiledJuly 17, 1918 10 SheetsSheet 10 57 K-I/VVE/VTOR 664.

(@W ATTORNEY-S Patented Nov. 2 7, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,475,207" PATENT OFFICE- ISAAC TROLLEY, OF POU'GHKEEPSLE,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MOLINE PLOW COMPANY,INCORPORATED, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

TB'AGTOR' CONNECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Original application filed July .17, 1919, Serial No. 245,41Q. Dividedand this applicaton filed July 16,

' 1919. Serial No. 311,209.

. necting agricultural implements to tractors to cause the implement totrail behind the tractor in the travel of the latter through the field,and the invention has reference more particularly to the connection ofgrain bindi portion of a tractor and the stubble end of ers to tractors,and the invention consists of improved means for guiding the tractor andcontrollin the operation of the same, which 'means'wi 1 be described inthe specification to follow, and the novel features thereof set forth inthe appended claims.

The tractor herein disclo ed and to which my improvements are-pecu iarlyapplicable, consists of a power unit supporte by two power driventraction wheels, and having a rearwardly extending beam or frame1118111? her, which latter issupported so as to preserve the horizontalequilibrium of the power unit, by means of a supporting truck capable ofcertain limited movements relative to the power unit, the draft of thepower unit being applied to the truck, and through the medium of thetruck, applied to the implement to-be hauled. The control of the tractorby the driver is effected from the usual drivers seat on the implement,by means of appropriate controlling devices supported by the implement,and from which suitable operating rods extend. forwardly to themechanism of the tractor. the said controlling levers and devices beingdetachable from the implement and being applied to the tractor andoperated by the drlver from a seat on the tractor, when the implement.is connected to the tractor for transportation, or when the tractor isdisconnected from the implement and used independently thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of the rear a grain binder, showing the twoconnected in accordance with my invention for operat1on in the field. I

Fig. 2 is a, side elevation of the same on a sli htly enlarged scale.

' ig. 3is a similar view with the parts in a difl'erent position.

Flg. 4 is a lan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3 with certainparts removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 55 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the parts in a different position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the binder connected with thetractor for transportation.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale partly in section,showing the connection of the tractor with the binder when the latter istransported by the tractor.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing one of thelatches for holding the connecting frame in place on the grain platform.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line l2- l2 of F ig. 10. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Referring particularly to Figs. 1" to 8, 1 indicates a tractorconsisting of a power unit 1* and a supporting truck 2. The

power unit is operated preferably by a gas engine mounted in a frame 1supported by two power operated traction wheels 1", ex-

tending from which frame is a horizontal parts of the power unit carriedthereby to turn relatively to the beam, by which means the guiding ofthe tractor is efiected. The pinion is operated by an operating shaft 5suitably geared to the pinion as at 6 and extending rearwardly withinreach of the driver, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The supporting truck 2 extends beneath the beam 1 and supports the same,thereby preserving the horizontal equilibrium of the power unit. Thistruck is in the form of two upright open rectangular frames 2? connectedtogether side by side in fixed spaced relations, and constituting aunitary frame structure with spaced upper and lower horizontal bars 2and 2, and-spaced front and rear vertical bars 2 and 2 The upper bars 2have fixed between them at the front.

front and rear, horizontal longitudinally extending supporting pins 9mounted incross plates 9, fixed between the bars, upon which pins arerespectively mounted so as to rock and slide thereon, the lower ends oftwo arms 10 and 10 depending from the beam 1 respectively at its frontand rear. By this means the truck frame is capable of a limited motionrelative to the beam both in a fore and aft direction, and about a foreand aft axis, as will be more particularly described hereinafter. Therear end of the truck frame is supported from the ground by two truckwheels 11 journaled on a horizontal axle 12 carried in a yoke or frame13 pivoted on a vertical axisas at 14 to a hanger strap 15 connectedfixedly to the lower ends of the rear vertical bars 2 of the truckframe. The outer extremities of the axle are formed with vertical holesin which extend the rear downwardly turned ends of two fore and aft rods16 whose forward ends are pivoted on vertical axes as at 16 to a hangerbracket 17 fixed to the frame 1 of the power unit, the pivotalconnection of the rods with the bracket being on opposite sides of theaxis of the yoke 1. As a result of this construction and arrangement,when the frame of the power unit is turned relative to the beam 1 insteering the tractor, the truck wheels will be swiveled or turned in thesame direction as shown in Fig. 7, thereby effecting a quick and shortturn of the machine.

The draft of the power unit is transmitted to the truck by means of adraft rod or link 18 having its rear end turned downwardly and enteredloosely in a hole in a horizontal bracket plate 19 fixed between thelower horizontal bars 2 of the truck frame atthe This draft rod extendsforwardly and is pivoted by means of a vertical pivot pin to a clevis20, which in turn is pivotally connected by means of a horizontal pivotpin to the lower end of a draft arm 21 depending from the yoke 1.

To adapt the tractor for connection with certain forms of farmimplements, for instance a grain binder 22 as shown in the accompanyingdrawings to pull the same through the field for operation on the grain,a draft member in the form of a stub tongue 23 is provided which ispivoted at its forward end by means of a horizontal pivot bolt 24between the two front vertical bars 2 of the truck frame near the lowerends of said bars, the said tongue extending rearwardly between the rearbars of the truck frame and beyond the same where it is connectedpivotally by means of a horizontal pivot pin 25 with the frame of thebinder in a manner similar to the connection of the usual draft tonguetherewith. In connection with this draft member or stub tongue as themeans for applying the draft of the tractor to the binder frame, Iemploy two side draft bars 26 whose forward ends are pivoted to thetruck frame on the pivot bolt 24 before alluded to, and which draft barsdiverge rearwardly and have their rear ends widely separated andpivotally connected by horizontal pivot pins 27 respectively between twopairs of ears 28 on the binder frame, the axes of the pivot pins 27 andthe pivot pin 25 being in horizontal coincidence as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 6. Due to this .pivotal connection of the binderframe with the truck frame, the binder frame and consequently the grainplatform may be rocked or tilted about the transverse axes of the bulland grain wheels, which tilting action will be in relation to thetractor and will raise and lower the'cutter bar 22*. In other words, Iprovide a flexible or articulated connection between the tractor andbinder frame so that the height of the cutter bar may be adjusted fromthe ground to vary the point of attack on the grain, and also so thatthe weight and down-drag of the tractor will not be imposed on thebinder.

The adjustment of the binder frame relative to the tractor is effectedby the usual platform adjusting member 28, (Figs. 1 and 3) pivoted nearits lower end on a horizontal axis as at 29 to a fixed part of thebinder frame alongside a segment frame 30 fixed to the elevator frame atits front, the lever being provided with the usul locking latch (notshown) to engage between the teeth of the segment frame and thereby holdthe lever and connected arts in their different adjusted positions. helower extremity of the lever is pivoted to the upper ends of two uprightlinks 31 extending at their lower ends on opposite sides of the stubtongue 23 near its rear en and pivotally connected thereto by ahorizontal pivot bolt 32. By pushing t e lever forwardly, the binderframe will be tilted on the axes of the bull and grain wheels, whichwill raise the front of the platform and cutter bar, the stub tongue inthis action moving upwardly with the connected parts; and by pullin thelever rearwardly these movements wil adjusted position by locking thesame to the segment frame. "These adjustments as before stated areinrelation to the tractor, the entire welght of the same-being borne:conjointly by. the front tract-ion Wheels l andthe reargtruck wheels.11, and by reason of- -thepivotal connection off-the binder with.trails behind the tractor-being subject only-'- 'tion in front of thedriyerisseat by means j of a standard 42extending upwardly from thefixed seat pipe 43 and is fixedly braced through the truck. i Thecontrol of the tractor mechanism by the driver is effected fromthe usualdrivers the tractor, which allows thetwo to move up and down relativelyto each other in passing over uneven ground, such weight is not 1mposedon the binder "frame, the latter as it to the draft pull .of the powerunit exerted seat 33 on the binder frame,- by control devices in theform of levers 34, 35 and 36 for controllingthe clutch gears'haft andgas, and the hand wheel 33 connectedwith an extension 5 of the shaft 5before alluded to for guiding the tractor. This extension shaft has abearing nearjits outer 'end in.

an arm 5 extending upwardly from'iaiframe or support 38. The controllevers have-op} crating rods 34 35*"and-36 connected with them andextending to the tractor mechanism, and said levers are mounted on thesupport 38 which has a base plate 38Vseated on a flat bracket plate 39and detachably con nee-ted thereto by means of'fastening bolts 40extending through the base plate and bracket plate, whereby the supportis readily detachable from the bracket plate. The ends from' the binderframe by suitable brace rods.- The base plate 38 of the support 38' hasprojecting upwardly from it a fixed stud see Fig. 4) on which is looselymounted. a collar provided with pins 46 projectingoutwardly therefrom,which pins extend loosely through a yoke 47 on the rear end of a. rod orlink 48,. whereby a gimbal or -universal joint is formed between thelink' and the supporting frame 38. The link has its forward endconnected in a like manner to a plate 49 (see Fig. seated on the beam 1and clamped adjustably in place thereon by clamping plates50 sea-tedagainst the under sides of the projecting ends of the plate 49 anddetachably fastenedthereto by bolts 51, the said clamping platesextending ihwardly and bearing against the under sides of edge flanges52 on the beam.

T he supporting frame 38 guide plate 41 and tied to the tractorbeamtransportation.

sliding on the by the linlr'48 connected with the beam and; frame; byuniversal joints, permits the tra'ctor and binder frame to moverelatively to each other both vertically,horizontally and sidewi'seinzthe travel of the machine over thebinder frame relatively to thetractor,

- -uneven=-ground, and in the adjustmentsot without bringing any strainto bear on the connecting rods between the controll1n;

levers and the mechanism of the tractor, while at the same'time the link48 preserves the same distance between the tractor and controllinglevers irrespective of thechanging relations and distance between thebinder. .frame and tractor. The connecting rods 34, 35 and 36 andthe-extension of-the dpcrating shaft 5 are guided and supportedbctwentheir ends in the long stretch between per end of an arm extendingupwardly from the tractor andjcont'rollinglevers, by means of averticalg'uide plate-=52 fixed to" the upand' fixed to't-he'link 48 andprovided'with holesthrough which the rods and shaft loosely extend.-The, connecting rods 34%. 35 and" 36 are formed each of a forwardsection and 'a rear extension section which areconnected.togethendetachably, so that the extensions ;may be removedwhen the controlling levers are transferred to ."the

tractor, as will ,be'. presently described.

I The form, construction and arrangement- ..of the parts abovedescribed, for the attac'hment of the binder frame to the tractorinoperative position and the control of the tractor are such that thebinder and tractor may be speedily andreadily disconnected .from-- eachother and the binder connected Yesin inoperative positionto the tractorfor When so. connected the driver controls the tractor from a seat oncontrolling levers being transferred from the binder-frame ,to the beam1 of the tractor, and a special connecting frame beingprovided forattaching the grain. platform" of the binder to the tractor truck.

26 are disconnected at their rear ends from In making this change forthe transpor- .tation of thebinder, the side draft bar -n:-

the binder frame, likewise the rearend of .the stub tongue 23; and thelower ends 'of the linksf31'are disconnected from the stub tongue.Alsothe extension sections of the connecting rods 35 36 and'r37 andshaft 9 5' are disconnected from," the. forward portions of saidmembers, and disconnectedjj also from the,controlling levers and handwheel. The link 48 is disconnected at its rear end from the bracketplate 39 by liftand the plate 49'to which the opposite end of the rodisjointed is disconnected from the beam 1 The base, plate 38 of thesupporting frame 38 carrying the control- 8' ing the collar 45 from'the'stud 44 thereon,

105 .the tractor 'as shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusivathe supportingframe 38 for the &

levers, is now unbolted from the bracket plate 39 and the frame 38removed and transferred to the beam 1 in which it is seated and clampedfirmly in position by the clamping plates 50 before alluded to. The rearends of the forward portions of the connecting rods 35 etc., areconnected with the respective control levers and the hand wheel 37applied to the rear end of the shaft 5. The partswill now appear asshown in Fig. 8. The'binder frame being now free from the tractor, it isturned around. so that the grain end of the platform will be next thetractor. The opposite end of the binder is elevated to.lift the bullwheel off the ground, and the two transport wheels (Fig. 8) are appliedas usual to support the frame at this end. The grain end of the platformis now attached to the tractor by means of a special supporting andconnecting member shown more particularly in Figs. 9 and 10, andcomprising an open rectangular frame 61 preferably formed of angle ironand consisting of side bars 61 and 61 and end bars 61 and 61 which barsare connected fixedly together at their ends to form a unitary framestructure. This connecting frame is of a form to extend beneath the endof the platform and to be connected therewith in such position as toproject horizontally beyond the same and surround the grain wheel X asshown in F ig". 10. To adapt the connecting frame to be readily andspeedily attached to the platform frame and to be detached therefrom a.rearwardly extending arm 62 is fixed to the frame bars 61 and 61 and isadapted, when the connecting frame is in position, to extend in a hole63 in a cross bar 64 on the platfrom frame, by which means the rear endof the connecting frame is supported. The two side bars 61 and 61 neartheir forward ends have fixed to them lugs 65 which bear against th'erear side of a transverse bar 66 fixed to the platform frame, andforward of these lugs the said side bars have latches 67 pivoted to themso that they may be swung laterally and engaged over the upper side ofthe bar 66, locking pins 68 being provided and being insertible inregistering holes in the'latches and side bars to hold the latches inlooking position. By this means the frame 61 is supported at its frontand is prevented from relative endwise movement. At one side theplatform frame has fixed to it alug 69 which extends downwardly at theouter edge of'the side bar 61 of the frame .61 and horizontally beneaththe same, by

which means the'connecting frame is prevented from side movement andsupported at thisv point. i

In applying the connecting frame and att a ching* it to the platformframe, the

latter is first elevated to liftthe grain wheel off the ground. Theconnecting frame is then thrust endwise beneath the wheel, and the arm62 entered in the hole 63, whereupon the frame is elevated. at it frontand engaged with the under side of the cross bar 66, with the lugs 65hearing against the rear side of the bar, the frame bar 61 being at thesame time engaged over the horizontal end of the lug 69. The latches 67are now swung laterally so as to engage the bar .66 and are locked inposition by the locking pins before alluded to. The connecting framev isnow in place ready for connection with the tractor. This is accomplishedby means of a pin 70 which is passed through registering holes in a lug71 sition and locked in such position to hold the platform elevated, bymeans of a bolt 73 (Fig. 9) which is passed through registering holes 74in the two rear vertical frame bars 2 'of the truck and through a holein the tongue. The binder is now fully connected with the. tractor inoperative position for transportation, and the driver occupies a seat 75 (Figs. 8 and 9) sustained by the truck between the same .and theadjacent end of the platform. This seat is carried by a seat spring 76which i de tachably interlocked with the truck frame so that it may beapplied when the binder is to be connected for transportation, and maybe detached when the binder is connected for operation. The spring restsnear its forward end upon a horizontal bracket plate 77 (Fig. '9) andextends between the two rear bars and the truck frame and between twopins 78 projecting upwardly from the plate 77, and forward of this platethe spring' engages against the under edges of the two rear cross plates9 before ,ity of the spring and engaging over one of the upper bars ofthe truck frame.

In order to limit the lateral rocking motions of the power unitrelatively to the supporting truck about the fore and aft axes of thesupporting pins 9, I apply to the upper horizontal bars 2 of thesupporting truck, a, bracket 80 provided with oppositely projectinghorizontal stop arms 81 which are normally spaced some dlstance from theunder side of the beam 1, but which are adapted to be engaged by saidbeam in the event of the undue lateral rocking of the same and thuslimit said motion.

It will be observed that by reason of the form and constructionof thedraft connections between the truck and implement,

which connections arepivoted at their forward ends on the horizontalpivot bolt 24 and'at their rear ends on the horizontal aligned axes 25and 27, the implement will trail behind the'truck'and will be capable ofa movement up anddown about the axis 24 relative to the truck, wherebythe truck and implement will accommodate themselves to the unevenness inthe surface of the ground, and whereby the weight of the power unit andtruck will be prevented I from being imposed 'on the implement. Also vtongue 23, this tongue may be adjusted up it will-be observed that dueto the connection of the adjusting lever 28 with the stub and downrelative to the truck, which action will correspondingly adjust theimplement up and down, and thereby raise and lower the forward ortioncarrying the cutter bar, the said imp ement in its different adjustmentsbeing always capable of an up and down movement relative to the tractor.

Due to the form and construction of the connections betweenthe implementand the truck, the implement may be veryreadily and "speedily attachedand detached therefrom in order to enable it to be drawn in operativeposition for operation in'the field, or to enable it to' be drawn ininoperative position as for transportation over roads or from'field tofield, et'c.. This: application is a division of application Serial No,245,410, filed July 17, 1918.

While in theaccompanying drawingsandj foregoing description I have setforth my invention in the particular detailed 1 form.

and construction which-I prefer toadopt, it will be understood thatthese details ma be variously changed and modi fiedi wit out departingfrom the'jlimits of the invention;

and further it will be understood that the invention is not limited toany particular form or'construction of the parts, encept in so far assuch limitations are speclfied in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what". 1 l v I claim is: V r 1. Thecombination of a power unit comprising a frame carrying tractor wheels,and a rearwardly extending laterally swingswiveling truck; "wheels, animplement in rear of the truck connected thereto to trail behind thesame, a controlling device sustained by the implement for turning the'ing beam connected; with the frame, a truck supporting the beam andprovided with tractor frame and wheels relatively to the.

beam toguide thepowerunit, and connec- I 'tractor. of the unstable typeof a binder, a stabilizing truck for connecting the tractor t and binderand stablizing both of them, said truck including swiveledtruck wheels,and means for causing the truck wheels to be.

In testimony whereof, Ijhave'aflixed my signature hereto. 1

'7 i ,ISAAGTROLLEY,

swiveled in unison with the tractor as it is steered.

